Sweet Heather AnneFebruary Vendor Spotlight

Feb. 12, 2013Main Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan

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his week's Vendor Spotlight is none other than Sweet Heather Anne. I have worked with Heather, and her team, on many shoots and her cakes are truly works of art. Using the finest ingredients, and often times locally sourced, the Sweet Heather Anne team will create the wedding cake of your dreams that tastes just as good as it looks! Keep reading to learn more about Sweet Heather Anne.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, when you started your business, how you got started in the wedding industry?
My love for cake design stems from an education in art, a passion for food, and a childlike refusal to believe that there is anything I cannot create. I was inspired to start making cakes while studying abroad in Italy in 2005. After volunteering in various bakeries, cooking at a fine dining restaurant, and making my friends a lot of awesome birthday cakes, I opened Sweet Heather Anne in May of 2010.

What is your favorite part of working with couples?
My favorite part about working with couples is designing a cake or dessert table that embodies their style as a couple. I love the aha moment, when they look at the sketch and say, its perfect, that's us ? I also love delivering the cake and seeing how all of the pieces of the wedding have come together.

Do you do all the design of the cake or do the couples usually have a design in mind? Is it a collaboration?
I would definitely call it a collaboration. We ask a lot of questions before couples come in for a tasting so that we can start brainstorming designs. Some couples have a very clear idea of what they are looking for, while others look to us for inspiration. We have a lot fun creating and editing sketches until we are all excited about the final design.

How long before their wedding should a couple start working with you?
We generally start working with couples 6 months to a year in advance. We encourage people to pin down the location, color scheme, and general feel of their wedding before coming in for a consultation. That way, we are able to design something that is cohesive with their wedding style.

What are your favorite cake and frosting flavors? What is your favorite combination?
My favorite cake is our almond olive oil cake with blood orange curd and citrus praline buttercream. It was inspired the blood oranges that I fell in love with in Italy. The curd is the perfect combination of sweet and tart, and I love the delicate texture of the cake. I'm also incredibly partial to our mexican shortbread cookies. I sneak more of those than anything else ;)

What trends are you seeing at weddings right now? Cakes, cupcakes, dessert tables, candy tables?
While dessert tables are still in, we are seeing a return of the showpiece cake. The Vintage/DIY wedding trend is giving way towards a little bit of glam. Art Deco inspired details, gold accents, graphic patterns, and watercolor painting have all been showing up in our latest cake designs.

What is your best piece of advice (in regards to their cake, desserts, etc.) for couples planning their wedding right now?
Think about what is most important to you about the cake, and go from there. Whether you're looking for a stunning centerpiece for the room, or simply a delicious ending to the meal, figuring out what your expectations are will help you find the dessert that is right for you.

Anything else you would like my blog readers to know about you and your business?
We're really excited for Valentine's Day this year. We'll have adorable cakes for two, french macarons, and conversation heart cookies at three different locations! We'll be popping up with Sweet Pea Floral Design at Rock Paper Scissors in Ann Arbor, and VLNTNSDYMRKT with lots of awesome local vendors at pot & box in Detroit. We're also extending our dessert counter hours so that you can come right to us between 10 and 6 to satisfy your sweet tooth on the 14th!

Thanks so much, Heather! And if you haven't tried Heather's cakes or desserts, you must, they are to die for!